While stroking, does the cat suddenly turn its backside toward you? What seems idiosyncratic is actually evidence of care and trust.
The typical behavior of a cat is not sometimes difficult to interpret. What would be a highly questionable gesture for humans is sometimes completely normal for velvet paws. When stroking, the animals regularly turn their backsides towards their owners and lift their tails in the air. For the animals, this act is an important part of their communication. Cats communicate a lot through smells and pheromones, which are particularly intense on the animal's anal gland. In addition, the velvet paws learn this behavior from an early age.
Cats learn the behavior in childhood
The mother cleans her offspring every day and does not miss out on the anal region. Even after the business is done, she licks the little kittens clean. As soon as the cat begins grooming, the babies instinctively present their anal region by raising their tail and rump. The gesture is not meant to be defensive, but rather expresses friendliness and trust. The cat feels safe and has, to a certain extent, accepted the human as the provider and head of the family.
If the cat turns its backside toward you while stroking it, it means you are doing everything right. There are many nerve endings running along the back of the back, which makes this region of the body a very sensitive area. So if the velvet paw presents you with this exact spot, it will demand even more petting there. However, you should be careful with your touches, especially because the area of the body is so sensitive. Not every cat likes to be petted there; some find the touch on their backside unpleasant. If people don't pay attention to this, more or less violent defensive reactions can occur.
Even apart from petting, the raised butt plays an important role in the cat's social behavior. For example, the behavior is part of the greeting ritual. Similar to dogs, cats sniff the buttocks of their fellow cats when they get to know each other. When a cat is ready to greet, it turns its head away, lifts its tail and bottom and presents itself to the other cat. At the same time, the animals show that they are in a peaceful mood and that they do not pose any danger. If you see two cats smelling each other's butts, it usually means that they like each other or want to invite the other to get to know each other.
The gesture is also used by humans: cats greet their owners by sticking their butts out towards them. Similar to cooing, this is a friendly welcome and you can be sure that your cat will be happy to see you again. In female cats, the gesture can also indicate that they are in heat. With their rear raised, they signal to potential sexual partners that they are ready for mating.
You can find even more exciting animal topics in the free partner newsletter from Landtiere.de, which you can subscribe to right here.
A raised butt can have other meanings, including:
Hunger:
As kittens, the animals learn to turn their anus toward the mother cat when care is desired. Accordingly, the cat also tries to use the gesture to indicate its hunger or appetite.
Trust and affection:
Sometimes there is no specific need associated with the raised rear end. When a cat feels comfortable in the presence of its owner, it often simply expresses its satisfaction through its behavior.